Occupational first aid courses are designed to meet workplace first aid and CPR requirements by employers only in British Columbia. Our training partners in Surrey and Vancouver both offer this program. This is a program that was developed through WorkSafe BC to ensure proper first aid and CPR training is given to employee’s. These courses are taught to very strict standards. Basic first aid courses offered through the major first aid providers in British Columbia are not equivalent to occupational first aid courses. Even though the course content of a emergency first aid course and a occupational first aid level 1 course are almost identical the awards are not. WorkSafe BC has developed three major first aid courses for candidates.
Occupational First Aid Level 1:
This course is a 8 hour course that covers basic first aid and CPR techniques. St. Johns Ambulance and St Mark James offer equivalent programs to WorkSafe BC. St Mark James has its workplace emergency first aid (WEFA) program and St. Johns has there workplace first aid program. Both courses meet the occupational first aid level 1 requirements set by WorkSafe BC. No re-certification courses are available for occupational first aid level 1. Upon successful completion of the course candidates will receive a certificate that is valid for 3 years throughout Canada. This course costs anywhere from 70 to 95 dollars.
Occupational First Aid Level 2:
This course is one of the most intensive first aid courses available. It is a 35 hour course that cover a host of first aid emergencies. Candidates learn almost the identical amount of material in this course as in the occupational first aid level 3 course. However, a occupational first aid level 3 course is a 70 hour course. No re-certification courses are available for occupational first aid level 2. This course costs anywhere from 500 to 750 dollars. Upon completion of the course candidates will receive a occupational first aid level 2 certificate that is valid for 3 years.
Occupational First Aid Courses Level 3:
This course is the most comprehensive first aid course offered through WorkSafe BC. This is a 72 hour course that teaches candidates a large variety of first aid and CPR training. It is almost equivalent in content as the occupational first aid level 2 course. Candidates can expect to pay anywhere from 700 to 900 dollars for this course. Re-certification courses are available for occupational first aid level 3 and they are called “OFA level 3 refresher” courses. A refresher course for occupational first aid level 3 takes 35 hours to complete and costs approximately 450 dollars. Upon completion of the course candidates will receive a occupational first aid level 3 certificate that is valid for 3 years.
Other available WorkSafe BC courses include transportation endorsement which is a 8 hour course in which candidates need to have a prerequisite of at least a occupational first aid level 1 certificate.